My home the coastal city of Durban South Africa is well known for its magnificent beaches, hotels, world class shopping and diverse cultures that are steeped in history. What you may not know, is that hidden between the high rise buildings and residences are some of the most incredible Art Deco buildings dating back to the 1930’s. In fact, Durban has been named the Art Deco Capital of South Africa. Sadly many of these buildings have been neglected but thanks to the efforts of The Durban Art Deco Society more awareness of these heritage buildings is being created by organising lectures and tours, instilling hope for these incredible buildings.

Art Deco

The word Art Deco evokes memories of Hollywood between the wars and the movement spread around the world between 1925 and 1940. The name Art Deco came from the Paris Exhibition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels Moderernes held in Paris in 1925. It was a new style celebrating a new era. The sensuous lines of Art Nouveau gave way to the jagged rhythms of Art Deco. The new style celebrated the machine age with geometic lines and shape with vibrant colour schemes. Characterised by unfuctional “modernism” it soon spread to the United States and Europe during the building boom in the 1930s. Recognisable by repetitive geometric patterns, stylised organic and animal motifs, sunbursts and sensuous colours. Many Of Art Deco’s greatest practitioners worked in many media (Art, architecture, interior design, jewelry, film sets) including Frank Llyod Wright, Ely Jaques Kahn and Sir Giles Gilbert Scott to name a few.

Image: Anne Roselt

Durban’s best examples of Art Deco Buildings are residential blocks built between 1930 and 1940. A characteristic is the round or square pilasters attached to the building which go the whole height of the building. Decorative elements like fauna, flora, fish and birds as well as some mythical creatures finish off the look.
These are 12 Art Deco buildings I have often driven past but have never taken the time to stop and appreciate. The beauty and detail is awe-inspiring.

1. Surrey Mansions – 323 Currie Road

Laughton & Barboure – William B Barboure 1937
Driving up Currie Road my eyes lit up in wonder when I saw this building, it is well maintained with an authentic colour scheme that changes depending on the light of the day.

Image: Andrew Harris

Fluted pilasters the entire height draw your eyes to the lion heads. The building also includes intricate design detail on the curved walls.

Image: Andrew Harris

2. Cheviot Court – Musgrave Road

A great example of how colour can enhance a building, showcasing the detail and adding value.

Image: Anne Roselt anneroselt.com

3. Victoria Mansions – 124 Magaret Mncadi Avenue

Nelso Secome 1935.

Image: Anne Roselt anneroselt.com

Beautiful animal and marine decorative features.

The mosaic above the entrance includes a ship called the Union Castle that called in at Durban for many years. (special to me as I have been on the Union Castle as a child.)

Image: Anne Roselt anneroselt.com

4. Berea Court – 399 Berea Road

Stucco finish with fluted pilasters that rise through the facade face with lion features at the top. I feel the features of this building could be enhanced even further with colour. It looks a bit washed out. The Art Deco Society does have 3 colour palettes on their site.

Image: Anne Roselt anneroselt.com

A close up reveals the beautiful detail of this building.

Image: Anne Roselt anneroselt.com

5.Lower Berea Road

Not all buildings are multi-story, I couldn’t resist adding these brightly coloured ones. A great example of how an area can be uplifted with a bit of maintenance and a lick of colourful paint.

Image: Andrew Harris

6. Broadwindsor – 7 Dr Yusf Dado Road

WC Moffastt & Hirst 1935
Badly in need of maintenance. This building on the bay has long pilasters which lead upwards to flying birds at the top.

Image: Andrew Harris

7.Manhattan Court – 11 Broad Street

A G Frolich 1937

Image: Anne Roselt

8. Quadrant House
This former residence of Merchant Navey Cadets. Situated near the harbor it is now a national monument and is very well maintained.

Image: Anne RoseltImage Source: Anne Roselt

9. Wakefield Court

Recently painted Wakefield Court behind Addington hospital is a great example of what can be achieved on buildings less impressive than some of the high rises. The colours complement and enhanced the design to great effect.

Image: Anne Roselt anneroselt.com

10. Enterprise Building – 47 Samora Machel Street.
A A Ritchie McKinley 1931. A classic Art Deco Building, with stylized geometric animal and abstract figures. An amazing eagle over the entrance. Sadly this building has not been maintained as well as it should be.

Image: Anne Roselt

11. Pixley House – 398 Dr Pixley Kaseme Street

This iconic Art Deco building in the city centre has recently been renovated, consisting of 115 sought after residential units. The dark paint colour with gold trim is elegant but also functional in that it masks the dirt associated with city life.

Image: Anne Roselt anneroselt.com

12. Memorial Tower Building UKZN

The Memorial Tower Building at the University of KwaZulu Natal was built after 1945 to celebrate the lives of young men and women who went to war against Fascism. Next to the Memorial Tower Building is the building of Howard College, it was made possible by a donation from Thomas Davis in remembrance of his son Howard who was killed at the age of 21 in the battle of Somme in WW1, as well as to commemorate other students who had died in both wars.

Image: Andrew Harris

The walls have recently been painted to look like the original cement.

Image: Andrew Harris

Visiting the Art Deco buildings in Durban would not be complete without visiting the Cenotaph in Albert Luthuli Square. Brought about by an architectural competition in 1921. Cape Town firm Eagle, Pilkington and McQueen won and the sculpture was unveiled in 1926. The Durban War Memorial is a memorial to the fallen in both world wars, the body of the fallen soldier lies at the base of the Cenotaph. The blue and gold art deco sculpture features a fallen warrior being transported to heaven in the arms of two angels.

Image: Andrew Harris

Driving around Durban looking at the Art Deco buildings I was amazed how many there are, sadly far too many are in bad need of maintenance. What a huge opportunity for the city Durban to show off these incredible buildings to the many tourists that visit.

I wish to convey my thanks to Michael Mulholland and Carol Allan from the Durban Art Deco Society for the work that they do to try and preserve these heritage buildings and for assisting me with this post.

I will be sure to do more investigating into Art Deco in future posts – please let me know any you have seen and loved.

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With 20 years experience working with colour and trends in the paint industry, this blog is about sharing my passion for colour and the ability the right colours have to improve the environment and people's lives.

16 thoughts on “12 of Durban’s Art Deco Buildings you will just Adore”

Very nice post, sorry to say but I always understood Quadrant House to in The Berea style, a style unique to Durban and therefore not Art Deco. Not to take anything away from what you have done, Durban really needs all the help she can get right now…

I used to work in Quadrant house. I was told it wasn’t Art Deco. Beautiful anyway. It’s a bit of an architectural anomaly – looks like something lifted from a Mediterranean village.
Thanks for the gorgeous pics.

I own the top 3 properties in Victoria Mansions, one of which is the penthouse. I acquired these flats over many years. I became disappointed in the area across from the harbor, largely because the Council failed to continue with plans to upgrade it. Regrettably, I recently put the flats on the market, but after reading your blog, I’m beginning to have second thoughts. Does anyone know what’s happening with the upgrade?

Hi, the ship you see in the mosaic above the entrance of Victoria Mansions is one of the passenger ships belonging to the Union Castle Line, that arrived in Durban every week on a Monday morning, leaving on Wednesday afternoon. The round trip Durban – Southampton took 3 weeks, and before flying became the easy and ubiquitous form of travel we have today, was the usual means of getting from SA to the UK/Europe. All of the ships had names starting with “castle”. So “Windsor Castle”, “Stirling Castle”, “Pendennis Castle” etc.

There are a few homes in Clairwood, south of Durban, which have the Art Deco influence. Sadly this area has been badly degraded by the influx of businesses. They will probably disappear in time. I have an Art Deco gallery on my website kznpr.co.za, in which I have tried to consolidate all my Art Deco Images. I don’t think I have the Berea Road shops in that gallery. Nice to see your images.

I’m not sure that your information on No. 12 is correct. It is called Memorial Tower Building (MTB). It is situated next to Howard College Building, which was pre-dates MTB and was funded as a memorial to Midshipman Howard Davis. I think it also qualifies as Art Deco. Whether MTB was also funded by the Davis family I cannot say.

Incidentally, many years ago my parents met the wife of the architect of MTB who told them that the original plan had been to have a matching MTB on the other side of the Howard College Building. So there would have been a matching pair on the University campus, and our skyline. Unfortunately it never happened and a very dull building was constructed instead. The series of increasingly small floors of MTB is not a particularly practical design.

Your photos were beautiful! I am from Tulsa, Oklahoma. We have many Art Deco buildings, too, built by the Oil Boom, early in the 20th century. Thank you, for sharing your love of these wonderful buildings. I wish the Art Deco Society well in their goals of restoration.